Tuscaloosa independent film project moving forward

Filmmakers trying to gather more donations

By Mark Hughes CobbStaff Writer

Published: Monday, April 8, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 11:38 p.m.

Though the IndieGoGo funding campaign hasn't taken off as fast as they'd like, backers of the film project “Song of Kwagala,” which is planned to be shot in Tuscaloosa and in Africa later this year, have moved forward in creating the team that will make it happen.

Later this week, Tuscaloosa businessman Todd Murphy, who's producing and co-writing music for the film, will travel to Los Angeles to meet with Alison Eastwood, whose company may be scouting locations in Alabama for a different project. He'll also meet with line producer Patty Long, possible director Constance “Connie” Hoy and others.

Meanwhile, a new social media producer is rebranding the movie's campaign. Eli Regalado, director of marketing at Denver's XMG record label, is trying to jumpstart donations for the remaining days of the IndieGoGo campaign.

The introduction to Regalado came from a trip to Denver a few weeks back, just after the launch party for the IndieGoGo campaign at Tuscaloosa's Nine.is interactive marketing, where “Song of Kwagala” has set up offices.

“Greg Barnhill (an award-winning Nashville songwriter who's also attached to the project) and I got so inspired we wrote a song that day and played it that night, for 500 people,” Murphy said, referring to a meeting before Denver's Rat Pack World Ventures. Regalado flew in to Tuscaloosa last week.

He helped launch the coffee party political movement in early 2010, an alternative to the tea party, believing government is not the enemy of the people, but an expression of collective will. From that, a music friend brought Regalado in for his social-marketing skills to co-start XMG. He's also co-founded Video Go Go, a marketing service focusing on the power of viral video.

When he heard about Murphy and “Song of Kwagala,” and about how much music will be involved, he was intrigued.

“Song of Kwagala” originated with a script by Chris Schroeder, who after seeing need firsthand, has been involved in developing clean-water systems for developing countries. His script follows a burned-out rock star who finds new meaning in life from performing at a water-borne illnesses benefit concert in Africa. “Kwagala,” pronounced “koo-GAH-la,” means “love” in Lunganda, one of the languages widely spoken in Uganda. The original plan was to shoot in Uganda, but Murphy has since found that Tuscaloosa has a sister city in the West African republic of Ghana, Sunyani-Techiman.

Ultimately, “Song of Kwagala” is intended as the core of a larger movement to raise awareness and funding for clean-water systems, which could save millions of lives. The finished film is also meant to become a stage play, with original music by Barnhill, Murphy, former Kansas singer-songwriter John Elefante, film composer Kari Kimmel and possibly others.

Another, separate funding campaign is beginning in Florida, but the IndieGoGo campaign is a central focus for now. The producers didn't wish to solicit traditional Hollywood funding, for fear this independent film — with a budget projected at about $1.5 million — would become subsumed by star-making and profiteering, losing sight of its humanitarian goals. Murphy is disappointed because less than 10 percent of the pledged funds so far have been from Tuscaloosans.

“We want people to understand that their $10 donation (donations can be made at several levels, with perks attached, from $10 to $10,000) is crucial to this process,” he said. The total goal for the 40-day IndieGoGo campaign is $341,000; just over $16,000 had been raised at press time. “We want Tuscaloosa people to feel invested in this. We want individuals to feel like they're a part of something big.”

It's not unusual for crowd-sourcing campaigns to need a jolt part of the way through, Regalado said.

“The last campaign I did raised $200,000, but we had to tweak the message halfway through,” he said. “You've got to see what's resonating with people, what's going to make them click the donation button.”

After the L.A. trip, there will be scouting in Ghana and casting in May. No big-name actors are being sought, to keep costs reasonable, and the filmmakers hope to rely on locals as much as possible.

“There's beautiful talent out there,” Murphy said.

The hope is that once the music is completed, the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater could be used for filming the concert-within-the-film, with the talent behind the moving shooting first, then playing an actual concert, but that's still up in the air.

“We're grateful for everything that's happening, and for anything people can contribute,” Murphy said. “We know we're moving in the right direction.”

To learn more, see the website at www.songofkwagala.com. The funding campaign can be found for the next two weeks at www.indiegogo.com.projects/song-of-kwagala.

<p>Though the IndieGoGo funding campaign hasn't taken off as fast as they'd like, backers of the film project “Song of Kwagala,” which is planned to be shot in Tuscaloosa and in Africa later this year, have moved forward in creating the team that will make it happen.</p><p>Later this week, Tuscaloosa businessman Todd Murphy, who's producing and co-writing music for the film, will travel to Los Angeles to meet with Alison Eastwood, whose company may be scouting locations in Alabama for a different project. He'll also meet with line producer Patty Long, possible director Constance “Connie” Hoy and others. </p><p>Meanwhile, a new social media producer is rebranding the movie's campaign. Eli Regalado, director of marketing at Denver's XMG record label, is trying to jumpstart donations for the remaining days of the IndieGoGo campaign.</p><p>The introduction to Regalado came from a trip to Denver a few weeks back, just after the launch party for the IndieGoGo campaign at Tuscaloosa's Nine.is interactive marketing, where “Song of Kwagala” has set up offices. </p><p>“Greg Barnhill (an award-winning Nashville songwriter who's also attached to the project) and I got so inspired we wrote a song that day and played it that night, for 500 people,” Murphy said, referring to a meeting before Denver's Rat Pack World Ventures. Regalado flew in to Tuscaloosa last week.</p><p>He helped launch the coffee party political movement in early 2010, an alternative to the tea party, believing government is not the enemy of the people, but an expression of collective will. From that, a music friend brought Regalado in for his social-marketing skills to co-start XMG. He's also co-founded Video Go Go, a marketing service focusing on the power of viral video. </p><p>When he heard about Murphy and “Song of Kwagala,” and about how much music will be involved, he was intrigued.</p><p>“So I met Todd and said, 'Let's make cool things happen,' ” Regalado said. </p><p>“Song of Kwagala” originated with a script by Chris Schroeder, who after seeing need firsthand, has been involved in developing clean-water systems for developing countries. His script follows a burned-out rock star who finds new meaning in life from performing at a water-borne illnesses benefit concert in Africa. “Kwagala,” pronounced “koo-GAH-la,” means “love” in Lunganda, one of the languages widely spoken in Uganda. The original plan was to shoot in Uganda, but Murphy has since found that Tuscaloosa has a sister city in the West African republic of Ghana, Sunyani-Techiman. </p><p>Ultimately, “Song of Kwagala” is intended as the core of a larger movement to raise awareness and funding for clean-water systems, which could save millions of lives. The finished film is also meant to become a stage play, with original music by Barnhill, Murphy, former Kansas singer-songwriter John Elefante, film composer Kari Kimmel and possibly others. </p><p>Another, separate funding campaign is beginning in Florida, but the IndieGoGo campaign is a central focus for now. The producers didn't wish to solicit traditional Hollywood funding, for fear this independent film — with a budget projected at about $1.5 million — would become subsumed by star-making and profiteering, losing sight of its humanitarian goals. Murphy is disappointed because less than 10 percent of the pledged funds so far have been from Tuscaloosans.</p><p>“We want people to understand that their $10 donation (donations can be made at several levels, with perks attached, from $10 to $10,000) is crucial to this process,” he said. The total goal for the 40-day IndieGoGo campaign is $341,000; just over $16,000 had been raised at press time. “We want Tuscaloosa people to feel invested in this. We want individuals to feel like they're a part of something big.”</p><p>It's not unusual for crowd-sourcing campaigns to need a jolt part of the way through, Regalado said.</p><p>“The last campaign I did raised $200,000, but we had to tweak the message halfway through,” he said. “You've got to see what's resonating with people, what's going to make them click the donation button.”</p><p>After the L.A. trip, there will be scouting in Ghana and casting in May. No big-name actors are being sought, to keep costs reasonable, and the filmmakers hope to rely on locals as much as possible.</p><p>“There's beautiful talent out there,” Murphy said.</p><p>The hope is that once the music is completed, the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater could be used for filming the concert-within-the-film, with the talent behind the moving shooting first, then playing an actual concert, but that's still up in the air.</p><p>“We're grateful for everything that's happening, and for anything people can contribute,” Murphy said. “We know we're moving in the right direction.”</p><p>To learn more, see the website at www.songofkwagala.com. The funding campaign can be found for the next two weeks at www.indiegogo.com.projects/song-of-kwagala.</p>